Walter N. "Ben" Clemons was an American basketball, baseball, and football player and coach for the Florida Gators.[1][2][3]
.png) | |
| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Alma mater | University of Florida |
| Playing career | |
| Football | |
| 1928–1930 | Florida |
| Baseball | |
| 1930–1932 | Florida |
| Position(s) | Center (football) Pitcher (baseball) |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| Football | |
| 1933–1935 | Florida (assistant) |
| 1939–1940 | Stetson (assistant) |
| 1941–? | The Citadel (assistant) |
| Basketball | |
| 1933–1941 | Florida |
| 1939–1941 | Stetson |
| 1941–1942 | The Citadel |
| 1943–1944 | The Citadel |
| 1946–1949 | Stetson |
| Baseball | |
| 1934–1936 | Florida |
| 1947–1950 | Stetson |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 69–105 (basketball) 50–81–1 (baseball) |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Awards | |
| University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame | |
Early years
editClemons was a high school teammate of Rainey Cawthon at Leon High School.[4]
Playing career
edit
Football
editHe was a 195-pound center on the 1928 football team, splitting time with starter Frank Clark.[5] The 1928 Gators were remembered by many sports commentators as the best Florida football team until at least the 1960s. An all-time Florida team selected by George Trevor in 1935 puts Clemons at second-team center, behind Welcome Shearer.[6]
Basketball
editClemons tied as the team's leading scorer in the basketball season of 1929–30 with 136 points.[7] In the 1931 Southern Conference tournament, Clemons was the high scorer in a victory over Georgia Tech.[8] Dale Waters and Monk Dorsett also played both football and basketball with Clemons.[9]
Baseball
editClemons pitched on the baseball team. He was captain of the baseball team in his senior season.[10]
Coaching career
editClemons coached at his alma mater from 1933 to 1936. He was the head coach of both the basketball and baseball teams, and an assistant for the varsity football team. Coach Clemons' basketball team once beat Adolph Rupp's Kentucky Wildcats in the SEC tournament, bringing Clemons to tears.[11]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Brian Howell (September 2014). Florida Gators. p. 15. ISBN 9781617839146.
- ^ Jack Hairston. "UF familiar with Final Four teams". Gainesville Sun.
- ^ Steve Rajtar (July 21, 2014). Gone Pro:Florida:Gator Athletes Who Became Pros. p. 196. ISBN 9781578605439.
- ^ "Leon High School football team".
- ^ Frank S. Wright (August 19, 1929). "Gators Entering Grid Spotlight With Great Eleven For This Fall". The Evening Independent.
- ^ "Tulane University Football Program-The Greenie; Florida vs. Tulane :: Tulane University Football Programs". Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
- ^ "'Gators Wind Up Season". El Paso Evening Post. March 17, 1930. p. 7. Retrieved August 18, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "History of the Early Southern Conference Atlanta Basketball Tournament - 1931 -".
- ^ "Florida Grid Stars Play Basketball". Oakland Tribune. January 8, 1931. p. 27. Retrieved August 18, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Frank S. Wright (April 3, 1936). "Clemons Faces Job Developing New Gator Nine". St. Petersburg Times.
- ^ "History of the Early Southeastern Conference Atlanta Basketball Tournament - 1934 -".
